EQ settings - advice?!

[josh.wah]

Hi All,

I was just wondering if any of you are wizards at getting your amps to sound *exactly* like you need them to using the EQ settings.

I play a few different styles, mostly Pop/Rock/Dance stuff, but I'm not very good at playing with the amp settings to get a mind blowing sound.

Any recommendations of websites etc would be really appreciated, or particular set-ups to get the diffinitive sounds for different genres?

Oh, and I've just bought an Ashdown MAG 300H EVO II with an Ashdown MAG410T bass cabinet - (4x 10" + tweeter)- it doesn't have graphic EQ controls, so be gentle with me!

Ideas?! Thank you.

 

[black_labb]

start flat and tweak.
try some settings that you wouldnt think you would like, and try to make it sound good to you. eventually you will get a feel for what you like.

 

[51m0n]

cut as a preference rather than boost...

learn how a sweep/semi-parametric eq should be used.

 

[Benjamin Strange]

Remember, for every EQ there is a fool to use it.

Subtle tweaks are generally best - cut when you can, avoid boosting if you can.

 

[staindbass]

Remember, for every EQ there is a fool to use it.

Subtle tweaks are generally best - cut when you can, avoid boosting if you can.

hahahahaaa.'there is a fool to use one " thats a good one. i like that. johnny a

 

[Benjamin Strange]

hahahahaaa.'there is a fool to use one " thats a good one. i like that. johnny a

Feel free to use it at your discretion for your PA and monitor engineers - just remember to send me 5 cents every time.

 

[cheezewiz]

start flat and tweak.
try some settings that you wouldnt think you would like, and try to make it sound good to you. eventually you will get a feel for what you like.

What he said.

 

[hasbeen]

cut as a preference rather than boost...

learn how a sweep/semi-parametric eq should be used.

this isn't necessarily true. It depends quite a bit on the design of the pre.

 

[hasbeen]

Hi All,

I was just wondering if any of you are wizards at getting your amps to sound *exactly* like you need them to using the EQ settings.

I play a few different styles, mostly Pop/Rock/Dance stuff, but I'm not very good at playing with the amp settings to get a mind blowing sound.

Any recommendations of websites etc would be really appreciated, or particular set-ups to get the diffinitive sounds for different genres?

Oh, and I've just bought an Ashdown MAG 300H EVO II with an Ashdown MAG410T bass cabinet - (4x 10" + tweeter)- it doesn't have graphic EQ controls, so be gentle with me!

Ideas?! Thank you.

maybe I can help. Can you decribe the tone you're after?

Or, maybe you like your tone but you can explain what it is lacking.

 

[51m0n]

this isn't necessarily true. It depends quite a bit on the design of the pre.

True, but as a general rule of thumb the human ear/brain combination tends to find boosts with a given Q (bandwidth) to be more obvious and less musical than cuts.

Whilst some higher end eq's tend to have a sharper Q for cuts than boosts this is by no means the norm, hence cut as a preference generally.

Clearly where ever anyone tries to make a hard and fast rule regarding tone/sound engineering then breaking it to see what happens is a good idea (it may turn out great, it may blow up your equipment, don't come telling me about it if it does ).

As always your ears are the judge...

 

[josh.wah]

maybe I can help. Can you decribe the tone you're after?

Or, maybe you like your tone but you can explain what it is lacking.

Hi- yes, I generally like what I get when I keep the treble and the reasonably high and keep the mids low, but find that it lacks definition.

I play with an accoustic guitarist and a Korg synth player, so i need a fat tone to support the accoustic guitar, but i need it to avoid any massive booming sound, because it's a bit over-whelming with the synth bass as well!

 

[scottblessed]

with ashdowns, i tend to find this setting works quite well.

l (bass) / / \ (mid) / (treble)

avoid using that god awful sub harmonic thing. want more bass in your amp, just add more bass, don't use that option.


Also, dependant on what kind of bass you have, if it sounds nice, turn the input gain higher to get the sound of the bass a bit more, if you do not like that, keep the input gain at a lower level and push the output gain higher.

 

[badboy1984]

with ashdowns, i tend to find this setting works quite well.

l (bass) / / \ (mid) / (treble)

avoid using that god awful sub harmonic thing. want more bass in your amp, just add more bass, don't use that option.


Also, dependant on what kind of bass you have, if it sounds nice, turn the input gain higher to get the sound of the bass a bit more, if you do not like that, keep the input gain at a lower level and push the output gain higher.

That setting is pretty good. It may not sound good alone when practice but when play in a band, it certainly cut nicely into the mix. It brings out more mid growl on my warwick, which certainly make me happy.

 

[JEBassman]

There is a lot of good advice here so far. As you experiment with different settings, keep in mind that you'll want different EQ settings for home, playing with your acoustic group, when you change locations, etc. The high treble sound you described could sound goood while you're playing at home, but probably need more mids and bass when you play with others. The ideal method is to experiment, with your bass and amp. Try playing at different distances from your amp: 2-3 feet, 5, 10 feet, etc. Listen for sound characteristics that sound different depending on how close you are to your amp. Try adding or cutting settings, slowly, and see what works for you. Take notes when you find settings that are appealing. That way you can return to that spot later. Try changing one knob at a time, keeping all others stationary. That way you'll hear what type of change each thing makes.

Most of all, have fun!